Tuesday 17 August 2010 shortly after 2 p.m. in the Werder business offices. Mesut Özil visits WERDER.TV shortly before the announcement of his transfer and signs an art piece...
Tuesday 17 August 2010 shortly after 2 p.m. in the Werder business offices. Mesut Özil visits WERDER.TV shortly before the announcement of his transfer and signs an art piece...
Tuesday 17 August 2010 shortly after 2 p.m. in the Werder business offices. Mesut Özil visits WERDER.TV shortly before the announcement of his transfer and signs an art piece. During the training camp in Bad Waltersdorf, he promised Werder’s picture experts his autograph and a good bye in the case of a transfer. And Mesut Özil wanted to keep his word. The team found out about Özil’s departure directly after the training in which the midfielder did not take part.
"Of course it’s too bad. Mesut was an important part of the team who had many decisive actions especially last season. But we will continue our way. Individual persons cannot hold us up,” said defensive boss Per Mertesacker ahead of the up-coming Champions League qualifier and the start of the Bundesliga. Team-mate Claudio Pizarro was happy that the days of wild speculation were over. "That was really a long story. Luckily it’s over with. That is good for Mesut and for the team. Of course Mesut’s departure is sad for us. But he moves to a super team and a classy coach. For us, it’s only important that we play a good game against Genua and win," said Pizarro.
Head coach Thomas Schaaf was not really surprised with the transfer. "After the negotiations and discussions of the last weeks, Mesut’s departure was not really new for us. You knew from seasons past that there is movement before the start of a season. We live in the here-and-now. We experienced that in the preparations already when many players were missing, including Mesut. We know that we were stronger with Mesut and that we lost quality. But looking back on experience, when some players leave others are integrated and step up. We hope that we can compensate on the loss and retain our strengths. We have not gone crazy in the past and we will continue our way," said Schaaf. The coach also wished Özil all the best for his next stop. "We know that Mesut is a player who can do special things. That’s why he was sought-after. We have faith he can take further steps and of course wish him that. In the end it’s a good sign when a player from Werder goes on and does well."
